Cover Story
Education Today
It’s that time of year again: back to school time. And this year, kids actually get to start the year in classrooms! But due to COVID-19 lingering around like an unwanted guest, the state of California is requiring students to mask up while indoors on campus. For this year’s Education Today issue, New Times Assistant…
Local filmmakers examine the 1977 Honda Canyon Fire in new, award-winning documentary, ‘FireStorm ’77’
While taking a film course at Allan Hancock College back in 2016, Lompoc local Dennis R. Ford would occasionally stay after class to chat with his professor, Christopher Hite. It was often small talk about movies they mutually enjoyed, but one conversation took an interesting turn that would alter both men’s lives for the next…
Julie Young spills the tea about her new picnic basket service, Teacups Children’s Tea Parties
How’s that old saying go? When life gives you lemons, make tea and cookies? Orcutt resident Julie Young spent most of 2019 preparing to start her own business, Teacups Children’s Tea Parties, but the following year put those aspirations to rest, at least for a little while. “While my original idea was only tea parties…
Shuttered Venue Operators Grants to benefit local music and entertainment businesses
Congressman Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) recently announced that 41 venues in California’s 24th District will receive funds from the Shuttered Venue Operators Grants (SVOG) program, divided between a total of more than $27.3 million. The program was created to support hard-hit businesses in the music and entertainment sector that were forced to close due to…
Gallery Los Olivos presents Lyrical Impressions, showcasing local artists Terri Taber and Carol Talley
Lyrical Impressions, a new duo exhibition showcasing local painters Terri Taber and Carol Talley, premiered at Gallery Los Olivos on Aug. 1 and is scheduled to remain on display through the end of the month. Both of the show’s featured artists are signature members of the Pastel Society of the West Coast. The exhibit includes…
Lompoc’s Classical School of Ballet hosts upcoming dance recital, Dancefest 2021
The Classical School of Ballet (CSB) presents Dancefest 2021 at the Lompoc Civic Auditorium, with performances on Aug. 6 at 7 p.m., and on Aug. 7 at 1 and 6 p.m. Ballet, lyrical, jazz, tap, and other dances will be performed during this five-act recital. Featured dancers in the show include Delaney O’Neal, Kaitlin Tosh,…
Diablo Canyon and desalination
We in California face a historically deep drought advancing on our state, in addition to the global warming increase that takes our Western U.S. water more every day. Yet, what are politicians fretting about? The plight of our Golden State? Not so much. The governor worries about the recall and where donations will come from…
Discrimination station
Man. You guys. If it wasn’t for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Santa Maria would still be racist against agricultural workers. Thank God that federal agency found out about the city’s “discriminatory” housing ordinance and threatened a $400,000 fine for noncompliance. If the city hadn’t repealed its employee housing ordinance, agricultural…
The full environmental impact of trucking oil across the Central Coast is hardly shown in the final report
Between an explosive sting video starring a senior lobbyist and a shareholders meeting that saw three seats on their board going to climate activists, ExxonMobil’s been having a rough year. It couldn’t happen to a nicer oil company. But it hasn’t slowed their roll on the Central Coast. It’s been almost a year since I…
Political Watch: August 5, 2021
• Santa Barbara County gun owners have the opportunity on Aug. 21 to participate in an anonymous gun buyback program at the Earl Warren Showgrounds, where firearms can be exchanged for $100 Smart & Final gift cards. On July 30, elected officials gathered at Santa Barbara City Hall to encourage locals to participate in the…
Guadalupe cancels 75th anniversary celebrations over COVID-19 concerns
This year marks Guadalupe’s 75th anniversary as an incorporated city, and the community had big plans to celebrate this milestone with vendors, a parade, and even a mobile COVID-19 vaccine clinic. But event organizers announced Aug. 2 that the celebration would be canceled due to rising COVID-19 cases from the quickly spreading Delta variant. “At…
NHC loses court fight over Orcutt dispensary, founder charged with bribery
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Los Angeles announced bribery and tax evasion charges against Natural Healing Center co-founder and owner Helios Dayspring just days after a Santa Barbara County Superior Court judge denied the cannabis company’s petition against the county for the score NHC received on its application to open an Orcutt dispensary. NHC filed…
Santa Maria repeals housing ordinance, agrees to HUD resolution
After the Santa Maria City Council’s final vote to repeal its housing ordinance passed on July 27, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced July 30 that it reached a voluntary compliance agreement with the city, resolving allegations that the housing ordinance violated the Fair Housing Act. According to HUD, it first…
Camino Scholars program at People’s Self-Help Housing sites helps kids succeed at school, even after the pandemic year
The Camino Scholars program, quite literally, meets kids where they’re at. People’s Self-Help Housing (PSHH), the biggest affordable housing organization on the Central Coast, offers a variety of free, site-based services to its residents. One of those services is Camino Scholars, an after-school education program offered on-site at PSHH properties. “We have 11 learning centers…
